Subterranean-well heater



Patented Get. 7, 1924. H

asiaa nr so.

ISAAC DE KAISER, OF WILKINSBURG, AND ARTHUR G. POPCKE, OF PITTSB'UH,

PENNSYLVANIA,

SUBTERRANEAN-WELL HEATER.

Application filed March 23, 1922. Serial No. 546,060.

To all whom it may; concern:

Be it known that we, IsAAo Dn KAISER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, and ARTHUR G. PoPoKE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Subterranean-Well Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to heating devices and particularly to devices for heat-treating I subterranean wells.

One object of our invention is to provide a device of the above-indicated character that shall be simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and eflicient in its operation. I

Another object of our invention is to pro"- vide a subterranean well heater that shall be of easy manipulation and of ready and economical maintenance in service.

Another object of our invention is to provide a readily renewable fuel or heatingmaterial cartridge for a subterraneanlwell heater to thereby simplify the operation of charging the heater in the field and to permit rapid recharging thereof if repeated heating operations are necessary or desired.

A further object of our invention is to so dispose a body of fuel or heating material in a subterranean well heater and to so direct or circulate a heat-increasing fluid therein as to improve the heat-giving property of the heater. a

With such objects in view, as well as other advantages which may be incident to the utilization of the improvement, the invention consists in the parts arid combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportion and arrangement without departing from the nature and scope of the invention.

In our co-pending application, Serial No. 443,462, filed February 8, 1921, is fully set forth and described a subterranean well heater, similar to our present invention, to-

an lmprovement in the manner of supplying 3 oxygen to the fuel and to so otherw se simplify and render more effective a subterranean well heater as to greatly facilitate and render umore economical the operation of treating wells.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood, means are-shown in the accompanying drawings for carrying the same into practical efl'ect, without limiting the improvements, in their useful applications to the particular construction which, for the purpose of explanation,we make the subject of illustration. Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a fragmentary longitudinal or side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a subterranean well heater embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a view taken along the line II II of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a renewable fuel cartridge constituting a part of our' invention.

A subterranean well heater embodying our invention comprises, in general, an outer shell or casing 1, a tube 2 by which the device is lowered into a well and through which combustion gases escape, a renewable fuel cartridge 3, an oxygen-containingtank or container 4 and a fluid-projecting member 5.

The casing 1 comprises upper and lower tubular sections 6 and 7 a union 8 for connecting the sections 6 and 7 a cap member 9 which fits the upper end of the section 7 and into which the tube 2 is fitted, and a lower end memberv 10. The tube 2 is adapted to extend only to a position above the water 3 is adapted to contain a combustible fuel, such as charcoal, coke, etc, that may be employed singly or intermixed, or that may be combined with asuitable heating material, such as particles of fire-brick, asbestos or the like in any one of various combinations.

The lugs 12 serve to center the cartridge 3 in spaced relation to the walls of the section 6. A sleeve 14, ClOSBly fitting the lower end of the section 6, is supported on the union 8 and, in turn, supports the cartridge 3 by engagement of the lower lugs 12 therewith.

The tank 4 is supported on the lower end member 10 and is provided with a pressure regulator 15 and a control valve 16 between the tank and the member 5. The latter is provided with a nozzle 17 that is shaped to so direct an oxygen blast or draft circularly and upwardly as to cause a helical whirl'of oxygen around the cartridge 3 between the latter and the walls of the section 6. Since the walls of the cartridge are perforate, the fuel body in the cartridge is constantly surrounded by a fresh supply of oxygen to thereby quickly and efiectively create an intense heat throughout a relatively great length of the heater. The helical form of the oxygen whirl causes uniform distribu tion of the oxygen and, by causing 1t to travel a greater distance than it would travel if it were projected perpendicularly, causes it to more effectively combine with the fuel.

To further ensure perfect combustion, the walls of the cartridge are constructed to ofler as little obstruction to the free flow of oxygen around and through the fuel particles as possible, and are preferably constructed of combustible material to avoid obstructing the transferrence of heat to the walls of the heater. A screen or perforate member of relatively thin sheet iron has been found to meet the above-mentioned requirements and is further well adapted for its purpose because, after being consumed or oxidized, it retains its original shape sufficiently to permit the cartridge to be removed as a unit. However, we do not limit ourselves to the use of iron, as any other suitable material may be used.

In operation, the cartridge 3 is placed in position in the section 6 and the tank 4 in the section 7 above ground, at a position sufficiently removed from the well mouth to avoid igniting the well gases. An apertured pad or disk 18, of asbestos or other material, may be placed aroundthe member 5 to insulate the tank 4 against undue heat. The regulator 15 is adjusted to give the desired flow of oxygen and the valve 16 opened to permit the flow thereof.

When the cartridge 3 is ignited,the sections 6 and 7 are screwed together by the union 8 to, thus, totally enclose the casing except for the outlet through the pipe 2.

ing, being a matter of hours, ensures effective breaking down of the barrier which clogs wells having any considerable parafiin .or other similar heavy constituents therein.

Thedevice of our invention comprises few parts, is compact, economical in construction and operation, is easy to transport and manipulate and, further, ensures a materially increased yield in producing wells that have been clogged Tby parafiin or have had theproduction thereofstopped or retarded through any cause removable by heat.

We claim as our invention:

1. The combination with a heating device, of a renewable fuel cartridgetherefor adapted tosupply one predetermined amount of heat only and comprising a container, and a body of solid fuel in the container.

2. The combination with a heating device comprising a plurality of co-operating elements, of a renewable fuel cartridge therefor comprising a container adapted to be placed in the device in unattached operative relation to said elements, and' a body of solid fuel inthe container.

3. The combination with a heating device, of a renewable fuel cartridge therefor adapted to supply one predetermined amount of heat only and comprising a container having perforate walls, and a body of solid fuel in the container 4. The combination with a. heating device comprising av plurality of co-operating elements, of a renewable fuel cartridge therefor comprising a container adapted to be placed in the device in unattached operative relation to said elements, and a body of solid-fuel particles in the container.

5. The combination with a heating device, of a renewable fuel cartridge therefor comprising a cylindrical metal container embodying perforate permanently connected sides and ends, and a body of solid-fuel particles in the container.

6. The combination with a heating device, of a renewable fuel cartridge therefor com prising a container constructed for operation with only one charge of fuel, and a body of solid-fuel particles in the container.

7. The combination with a heating device comprising a fuel chamber portion, of a renewable fuel cartridge therefor comprisnig a container having perforate walls and constructed for operative positioning in said chamber in unattached relation to other elements in the device, and a body of solid fuel in the container.

8. The combination with a heating device comprising a fuel chamber portion, of a renewable fuel cartridge therefor comprising a container having perforate walls and adapted to he slipped into and from operative position in said chamber, and a body of solid-fuel particles in the container.

9. In a subterranean well heater, the combination with a casing, and means for supporting combustion therein, of a renewable solid-fuel cartridge constructed in conformity, and to co-operate', with a portion of the casing.

10. In a self-contained subterranean well heat generator, the combination with a casing and means for supporting combustion therein, of a renewable solid-fuel cartridge constructed to fit the casing and to be slipped into position therein.

11. A heater comprising a casing that is totally closed except for a combustion-gas outlet, a body of combustible material therein and means for supporting combustion and uniformly distributing a fluid against said combustible material.

12. In a subterranean well heater, the combination with a casing and a body of solid heating material therein, of means for heating said material, including means for directing a fluid uniformly thereagainst.

13. In a subterranean well heater, the combination with a casing and a body of solid particles of heating material therein, of means for directing and circulating a fluid to uniformly encompass said body and to enter the spaces between said particles to effect uniform heating thereof.

14. In a subterranean wellheater, the combination with a tubular casing, of a body of solid heating material disposed therein in spaced relation to the side walls thereof,

and means for causing a flow of fluid to said material in the space between said casing and said heating material. v

15. A subterranean well heater comprising a tubular casing, a body of heating ma terial therein, a fluid-containing tank and means connected to the tank and adapted to direct a whirling draft of fluid about said heatin material. I

16. subterranean well heater comprising a tubular casing, a body of heating material disposed therein in spaced relation to the walls thereof, a fluid-containing tank, and means connected to the tank and adapted to direct a helical whirling draft of fluid around and along the body of. the heating material in the space between the latter and the walls of the casing.

17. A subterranean well heater comprising a tubular-casing, a body of combustible fuel therein, an oxygen-containing tank and means connected to the tank and adapted to greet a whirling draft of oxygen about said 18. A subterranean well heater comprising a tubular casing, a body of combustible fuel disposed therein in spaced relation to the walls thereof, an oxygen-containing tank and means connected to the tank and adapted to direct. a helical whirling draft of oxygen around and along the fuel body in the space between the latter and the walls of the casing.

19. A subterranean well heat-er comprising a tubular casing, a body of heating material disposed therein, a fluid source and means connected to the source and adapted to direct a whirling draft of fluid along said body.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 20th day of March, 1922.

ISAAC DE KAISER. ARTHUR G. POPOKE. 

